Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Dave spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Santan Dave, the South London rapper whose 2021 album 'We're All Alone in This Together' debuted at number one, was recently spotted on the wrist with a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time in stainless steel — reference 5164A — adding a horologically significant choice to his public profile.

The 5164A sits at the intersection of Patek Philippe's sportier Aquanaut DNA and the manufacture's longstanding mastery of complications. Measuring 40.8 mm in diameter, the case is crafted from polished and brushed stainless steel, framing the brand's signature embossed 'tropical' composite strap in black. The dial carries an olive-toned, relief-textured surface with luminous Arabic numerals and two subsidiary windows for the home-time and local-time displays. Power comes from calibre 324 S C FUS — a self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 45-hour power reserve — featuring Patek's patented instantaneous-jumping local hour mechanism, adjusted by two pusher-correctors set into the case band.

From a collector standpoint, the 5164A occupies rare territory: a steel Patek sport watch with a genuine travelling complication. Since Patek discontinued several Aquanaut references in recent years and tightened steel-model production broadly, the 5164A has become increasingly difficult to acquire at retail. Authorised dealer allocations are tightly controlled, and grey-market premiums have remained persistent despite fluctuations across the wider pre-owned market.

Dave's watch sensibility aligns with a generation of UK artists who treat fine watchmaking as a considered extension of personal identity rather than straightforward status signalling. Choosing the 5164A over a more ostentatious diamond-set piece or a higher-profile Nautilus reference says something deliberate — the Aquanaut Travel Time rewards those who know what they are looking at.

The UK list price for the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time 5164A sits at approximately £27,090, translating to roughly $34,000 USD at retail. On the secondary market, clean examples with box and papers regularly command meaningful premiums, typically trading between $45,000 and $55,000 USD depending on condition and provenance — a reflection of both the model's practical elegance and the enduring premium the market places on steel Patek sport references.